News

Brandon Weston dodges driving ban

A FORMER estate agent dodged a driving ban after claiming it would cause him and his family "exceptional hardship".

Brandon Weston, the former owner of estate agent Premier Places, found himself in court once again on Monday after he received 12 points on his driving licence, making him eligible for a ban unless he could convince the court he would suffer as a result.

The 45-year-old, of Droitwich Road, Worcester had to hand over his remaining assets of £11,715 after a criminal compensation hearing last January. He was sentenced to 12 months in jail, suspended for two years, in September 2011 after he admitted four counts of fraud between April 2007 and February 2009.

Weston, who once owned seven houses in the city and a house in France and had stake in Worcester's Glasshouse restaurant, used money paid in for his 203 tenants as deposits to finance other businesses instead of ring-fencing it.

The court heard how Weston was clocked speeding at 45mph in a 30mph in his Ford Focus on the A449 Ombersley Road towards Claines on October 12 last year. He already had nine penalty points on his licence and by admitting speeding he got another three points, making him subject to a ban unless he could convince district judge Nigel Cadbury it would cause him or those close to him exceptional hardship.

Brandon, dressed smartly in a suit, had to give evidence on oath at Worcester Magistrates Court, presenting documents to the judge about the impact a driving ban would have on him and his family.

Because the documents were handed to the judge and not read out in court, your Worcester News cannot give full details of his arguments against the ban.

Weston said: "I think it's all pretty much laid out in the statement your honor. There is nothing else that really needs to be added to that other than to apologise for my actions."
Weston said he now worked as a franchise consultant for a local franchise company. He said: "I do travel quite a lot with my work. That could be done with public transport and a slight change in my role."

Mr Cadbury said: "On the face of it, it's questionable whether this would be exceptional rather than just inconvenient or annoying for everyone." Mr Cadbury said if the ban had an impact on work and family both should be mentioned in his argument. Mr Weston said he used the car to take his children to sporting activities and he did the school run on a Monday and Tuesday evening. He also said he did between 25,000 and 30,000 miles a year with work, seeing various franchisees around the country.

Mr Cadbury, summing up, said: "I'm prepared to conclude it would be exceptional hardship to your family and to yourself for social reasons and work reasons. It is a combination of those factors which would result in exceptional hardship. I will not disqualify you from driving for the reasons I have given - exceptional hardship on your wife and the effect on your two children and also yourself in relation to the risk of losing your job or not being able to do it properly."

He was fined £165 and ordered to pay costs of £60 and a victim surcharge of £20. He was warned that if he committed any more motoring offences which attracted penalty points he would not be able to use the same arguments again.
Mr Cadbury said: "If there's one more slip, you will be disqualified."

So what is this trying to portray? That if you say in court that your constant disregard for the law will somehow adversely affect your family, then you will be effectively be let off? Whatever happened to 'punishment to fit the crime'? Shame on the judge!

So what is this trying to portray? That if you say in court that your constant disregard for the law will somehow adversely affect your family, then you will be effectively be let off? Whatever happened to 'punishment to fit the crime'? Shame on the judge!Arthur Blenkinsop

From the location it looks like the man with the motorbike caught him.
I thought everyone who drives in that part of Worcester knew about the regular speed traps on this bit of road.
I often see him there doing his best to hide. He tucks in tight against the wall and does his best to blend in. But if you have got your eyes open you will spot him looking unhappy as you cruise past at 28mph.

From the location it looks like the man with the motorbike caught him.
I thought everyone who drives in that part of Worcester knew about the regular speed traps on this bit of road.
I often see him there doing his best to hide. He tucks in tight against the wall and does his best to blend in. But if you have got your eyes open you will spot him looking unhappy as you cruise past at 28mph.New Kid on the Block

Surely if Mr Weston knew that a driving ban would cause him and his family 'exceptional hardship,' it was up to him to ensure that he drove legally at all times. As he failed to take heed of his situation, then he ought to accept the consequences. Already having nine points on his licence should have been a pretty clear warning - driving at 45 mph in a 30 zone is a flagrant disregard for the law rather than a minor oversight and it seems amazing that the judge was so lenient.

Surely if Mr Weston knew that a driving ban would cause him and his family 'exceptional hardship,' it was up to him to ensure that he drove legally at all times. As he failed to take heed of his situation, then he ought to accept the consequences. Already having nine points on his licence should have been a pretty clear warning - driving at 45 mph in a 30 zone is a flagrant disregard for the law rather than a minor oversight and it seems amazing that the judge was so lenient.reflector

Brandon or the ' Don ' as he's now obviously now known should be called 'Teflon' non stick. When you're caught for speeding, a resultant ban is obviously going to be inconvenient but, you should get a ban none the less! Maybe I'll commit a fraud and when I get caught, in my defence I'll simply say (in a written statement) that my family needed 7 houses!!

Brandon or the ' Don ' as he's now obviously now known should be called 'Teflon' non stick. When you're caught for speeding, a resultant ban is obviously going to be inconvenient but, you should get a ban none the less! Maybe I'll commit a fraud and when I get caught, in my defence I'll simply say (in a written statement) that my family needed 7 houses!!Gettingawaywithit

The headline reads like he's some kind of sport's star or celebrity that I should know! Turns out he's apparently just a Ford Focus driving estate agent...

WN Get a new headline writer sharpish!

Brandon Who?
The headline reads like he's some kind of sport's star or celebrity that I should know! Turns out he's apparently just a Ford Focus driving estate agent...
WN Get a new headline writer sharpish!Small Town

,weekp3i47545ruioip23r[]23prep3oerp[] wrote:
This man should be given a job at the council he would fit in so well

Ah yes - a strong candidate for the next Mayor of Worcester.

[quote][p][bold],weekp3i47545ruioip[
4orp[orp[]23r[]23pr[
]ep3oerp[][/bold] wrote:
This man should be given a job at the council he would fit in so well[/p][/quote]Ah yes - a strong candidate for the next Mayor of Worcester.reflector

as someone who once had 6 points for speeding, when young and impetuous, I realised if I wished to continue driving legally, I needed to alter my driving habits, and drive within the law. These drivers who habitually accrue points and then go to court, to plead exceptional hardship to avoid a ban, are sticking two fingers up at the majority of law-abiding drivers. As for the magistrates and judges who accept their pathetic pleadings, I ask why not scrap the points system, because it's not doing what it was designed to do, thanks to liberal attitudes.

as someone who once had 6 points for speeding, when young and impetuous, I realised if I wished to continue driving legally, I needed to alter my driving habits, and drive within the law. These drivers who habitually accrue points and then go to court, to plead exceptional hardship to avoid a ban, are sticking two fingers up at the majority of law-abiding drivers. As for the magistrates and judges who accept their pathetic pleadings, I ask why not scrap the points system, because it's not doing what it was designed to do, thanks to liberal attitudes.sensiblegeezer65

The headline reads like he's some kind of sport's star or celebrity that I should know! Turns out he's apparently just a Ford Focus driving estate agent...

WN Get a new headline writer sharpish!

He is very well known locally. A string of business concerns followed by a conviction for fraud.

[quote][p][bold]Small Town[/bold] wrote:
Brandon Who?
The headline reads like he's some kind of sport's star or celebrity that I should know! Turns out he's apparently just a Ford Focus driving estate agent...
WN Get a new headline writer sharpish![/p][/quote]He is very well known locally. A string of business concerns followed by a conviction for fraud.Maggie Would